Why does segregation exist? Are we immune to all the violence and racism we see in the world? Does one’s culture or ethnicity decide what kind of person they are? Harper Lee’s novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, seems to directly address all these issues, and suggests maybe the answer lies in children.
There are many ‘mockingbirds” in this book, one of them being Tom Robinson. What I mean by “mockingbird” is someone who only does good things. “ ‘Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ ” (pg. 50) Tom Robinson is black and accused of raping a poor white man’s daughter. Although Tom has only done beneficial things for other people, no one believes him because he’s black. “ ‘Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em__’ ” (pg. 197)
Another example of a mockingbird in this story is Boo (Arthur) Radley. Boo is a recluse who no one has really ever seen. Because of the people’s lack of knowledge about Boo, there are lots of talk and rumors going around that he is type of monster. “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall... he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch... There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had left were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.” (pg. 12) Despite these negative rumors, the only times Boo came out, he did good things.
Harper Lee seems to suggest the idea that we are immune to all the hate & violence in this world, and the only solution rests in children. Numerous times throughout the book, she directly states this through the novels characters. “ ‘How could they do it, how could they? ‘I don’t know, but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it- seems like only children weep.’ ”(pg. 213)
In conclusion, Harper Lee’s novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, directly addresses the issues of segregation, prejudice, and racism. And it suggests that while most people today are immune to these things, true justice lies in children.
Why does segregation exist? Are we immune to all the violence and racism we see in the world? Does one’s culture or ethnicity decide what kind of person they are? Harper Lee’s novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, seems to directly address all these issues, and suggests maybe the answer lies in children.
There are many ‘mockingbirds” in this book, one of them being Tom Robinson. What I mean by “mockingbird” is someone who only does good things. “ ‘Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ ” (pg. 50) Tom Robinson is black and accused of raping a poor white man’s daughter. Although Tom has only done beneficial things for other people, no one believes him because he’s black. “ ‘Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em__’ ” (pg. 197)
Another example of a mockingbird in this story is Boo (Arthur) Radley. Boo is a recluse who no one has really ever seen. Because of the people’s lack of knowledge about Boo, there are lots of talk and rumors going around that he is type of monster. “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall... he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch... There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had left were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.” (pg. 12) Despite these negative rumors, the only times Boo came out, he did good things.
Harper Lee seems to suggest the idea that we are immune to all the hate & violence in this world, and the only solution rests in children. Numerous times throughout the book, she directly states this through the novels characters. “ ‘How could they do it, how could they? ‘I don’t know, but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it- seems like only children weep.’ ”(pg. 213)
In conclusion, Harper Lee’s novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, directly addresses the issues of segregation, prejudice, and racism. And it suggests that while most people today are immune to these things, true justice lies in children.